Financing an Alaska Trip...

What have you guys spent on an Alaskan hunting trip?? I'm planning a Moose hunt and after most of my research on the internet and calling outfitters and air taxis, I've planned on about $6000 for a good moose drop off. That price should be from my house back to my front door.. I was a resident on my first Alaska hunting trip and I still spent about $4000. Although much of that was buying high quality backpacking gear and hunting gear. This next trip I don't have that expense, except to upgrade and replace a few items. The information on the internet is almost overwhelming when it comes to finding an Alaskan Transporter.. I tend to stay away from the bargain deals for the drop off hunts.. I've heard to many bad stories from guys who were dropped off with about 10 other camps. Would like to hear your input on this subject!!

Jeremiah

That's a pretty good estimate. So far for my outfitted, unguided float hunt, I've spent about $5000. That's $3000 for the outfitter, $1000 for airline tickets, and $1000 for my moose, caribou, black bear and wolf tags. There's still a lot of gear to buy, food, lodging (one night in Anchorage, one in Aniak), shipping hides, meat and antlers back home. Luckily I save on the taxidermy ;-). I'm sure it could be done cheaper, but I wasn't really price shopping. So, I probably will spend another $1500 or so before it's all done.

NM Taxi

Who are you using as the air carrier out of Aniak? Hunted out of there with Inland last fall. Great folks!! Such a huge town )

Jeff

Hey Jeff - I was in Aniak and flew with Inland myself last Sept. What days were you there, and how did you do? Mark

Jeff, I'm using Aniak Air Guides. 4 weeks to go!!!!

Mark

are you from Austin, did I meet you?

I was there about Sept 15-16 through maybe the end of Sept appx. I dont' recall the dates exactly.

Who was your pilot? Furry?

Jeff

Jeff - I don't think we met as I am from Colorado although we probably crossed paths, as I came out around the 25th and Zack did most of the flying for us! It was the second time I have flown with them - The weather was supprisingly nice (almost too nice for hunting) The bou were scattered and quite a few were already out of the hills which is unusual for that early, but I did manage to take a couple. This one was shot over 3 miles from camp and kept me busy for a couple of days! All in all a great trip, but every trip up north is a great trip!!! Good hunting Mark

http://hometown.aol.com/huntelk4/images/markcaribou1.jpg

Mark

Sure looks like North Fork Lake. If so its one place we hunted. My buddy did a bunch of work on the planes for Zack. Mostly Zack flew us too. With one drop by Furry. Zack is an unbelieveable pilot. He built a house at Homer last fall as my friend helped him and is now flying down there instead of out of Aniak.

We were the same migration you had. Very slow and scattered. I knew that before I flew up but wanted the experience anyway. If thats the lake area you are at that I sure think it is, we were on the same bench area for a few days.

Ended up flying out to Bell creek later to get my carbiou. Had to dump my bow and make a long shot to get one but it was fun. 3.5 miles from the end of the landing strip. We were mule headed because of the distance and packed my Bou out in one trip.

Amazingly my bull looks tons like yours. Passed up a bunch because I wanted lots of stuff up on top!

I'll try to see if I can figure out how to post pics.

Ya'll may have camped on south fork and went up to north fork to shoot that one?? I may be all wrong though.

Jeff

Hi Mark

Compare my few pics here. One might look pretty close. Different angle by a bit if its the same place. Other is my Caribou from Bell Creek. Looks similar to yours. Finally you might recognize the pilot there, even though its not the Helio.

Jeff

Hey Jeff - Great pics!! How was Bell creek?? I was told there were tons of Griz over that way?? Did you see any??
The Pic of the Bou was above Aniak Lake - I recognize Zack and the 206 I've been in that same plane myself before!
The pic below is of a Moose I took in 2000 when I was out with Inland!
Any plans for future trips? I'm hoping to make it back next fall --- We'll see?? Happy Hunting! Mark

Mark

Plans were for 2008. I wanted to take my wife. We did Alaska on our honeymoon in 95. Then her sister and family decided they wanted to go. Now due to her husband getting older, we've moved up to 2006 hopefully. Lots of new gear to buy though. We'll see how it goes. I wanted to do a float trip for Moose and maybe a blackie. But they want Caribou. So we'll see what Inland and my buddy have to suggest. I'll bet Furry has an answer that might make us all happy. I'll have 2 non hunters and my brother in law and nephew for bou. And I'll be looking for a big bou or moose. Or big blackie if chance happens.

Looks like I"ll plan 2 days up, 10 to hunt, 2 back, and hoping to squeeze in 3 total weeks so we can go down towards Homer and do Halibut, and over to Valdez and pan for gold, and then down the inside passage on the ferry. Did that on our honeymoon and it was super. Hopefully fly out of Ketchikan.(hope no one suggests stopping there for a sitka hunt too!!)

One day I'll pick your brain on a no brainer Elk hunt up in your area too!

Bell Creek was full of Grizzly. My buddy was not a guide last year(only fishing guide) so we saw, took long range pics, and that was it. Funny thing was I never saw a griz till about 10 minutes after I popped 2 rounds out of Spencers 338 mag and had the bou down. It took an hour to climb up to him from where I shot. A pair of griz watched us climb up for about 15 minutes. Kinda unnerving a bit. Thankful for my new Smith Airweight 44 mag at that point since I didn't have a rifle.

Flew over Aniak lake a couple of times. That was an option when we went out but quite a few camps at that time. And North Fork had produced the biggest bulls of the year. So we took the chance at not seeing many, but maybe the right one. As it is the bumpy Bell Creek stip saved the day. In fact we shot 2. Mine up , way up on top. Then on the way back out with the meat the next day, shot Spencers at the creek!

We were about to try Gimuk(sp?) lake as the outfitters were out of there and many bou left, but changed our minds.

We were like you, saw many bou on the tundra. Overflew a few really big bulls. Like the one in the stairwell at Inland!! But we can all dream.

I'm afraid I'm hooked really bad on Alaska. I'd move but my wife can't stand the dark and cold....

Jeff

NMTaxi

Hey, about time for you to leave? Good luck!! Let us know how it went when you are back!

Jeff

1 MORE WEEK!!! I leave on Sept. 6th.